Coat hanger



Sept. 29, 1953 I M. G. ZENK 2,653,739

con HANGER Filed March 31, 1951 INVENTOR Patented Sept. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a collapsible coat hanger and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a coat hanger having a pair of outwardly extending arms which are hinged at their under side and to the hinge of which is attached an upwardly extending suspending hook. The upper sides of the arms are provided with cooperating latch members whereby the arms may normally be held in an outward position in conventional manner. By unlatching the arms the same may be moved angularly and downwardly so that the hanger may be removed through the neck of a garment to thereby enable the user to easily remove the garment without tearing the same. A tension spring is provided in a concealed manner for normally urging the arms to their upward or normal position.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a novel collapsible coat hanger.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character set forth which is simple in construction, easy to manufacture, inexpensive and yet eflicient and effective in use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel latching means forming a part of the invention.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel concealed spring which forms a part of the invention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention shown in normal condition,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the device in collapsed condition, and

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of a hinge forming a part of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein a coat hanger having a conventional suspending hook l which is provided with a dependent shank H to the lower end of which is centrally aflixed a hinge 12. The hinge I2 is provided with two leaves 13 each of which is aflixed to the underside of the inner end of an arm M. The arms [4 normally abut each other, as indicated in Figure 1, and extend normally outwardly and slightly downwardly in the manner of the conventional coat hanger.

One of the arms I4 is provided with a detent I5 at its upper inner side while the other of the arms I4 is provided with a latch member l6 at its upper and inner side which latch member is adapted to cooperate with the detent [5 to lock the arms M in their normal outwardly extending position.

A recess 20 extends inwardly into the arms M from their abutting inner ends.

A tension spring I! is disposed within the recesses 20 and extends for a short distance into a recess 20 in each of the abutting ends of the arms l4 and each end of the spring I! is attached to its respective arm in such recess by a transversely extending pin 22 to normally urge the arms into their normal position illustrated in Figure 1.

In operation, it will be apparent that when the arms are in their normal position and locked therein by means of the latch l6 cooperating with the detent l5 that the device may be utilized as a coat hanger in the ordinary manner. When, however, it is desired to remove a garment from the hanger, it is only necessary to disengage the latch Hi from the detent l5 and to move the arms l4 downwardly toward each other as well illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing whereupon the garment may be moved downwardly to entirely disengage itself from the hanger, the arms passing upwardly through the neck of the garment at such time.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a suspending hook with a depending integral shank, said shank having a hinge means aillxed on its lower end, said hinge means comprising a pair of leaves, an outwardly extending arm fixed on each of said leaves, the inner end portions of said arms being in abutting relationship when the leaves are horizontal, the said arms forming shoulder supporting portions, each of the abutting inner end portions of the said arms having a recess formed therein, a spiral spring disposed within the said recesses and being aflixed at each of its ends to a wall of the recesses, said spring normally urging the said inner ends into an end-abutting relation, and means for locking said arms in said end-abutting relation.

2. A device of the character described in claim 1, said locking means comprising a latch member attached to the inner end of one of the said arms and a detent fixed on the inner end of the other abutting arm, and said latch member adapted to hold and maintain the said arms in the said abutting relation when urged into said position by means of the said spiral spring.

MARWIN G. ZENK.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 395,884 Donaldson Jan. 8, 1889 765,331 Batts July 19, 1904 1,970,943 Raymond Aug. 21, 1934 

